Isla Amantani, Titicaca

For people who come to this region seeking nature, culture, and spirituality, my first recommendation is to see Lake Titicaca. The islands on the Peruvian side of Titicaca stand out thanks to easy access and good—sometimes very good—accommodation options.

Although the Bolivian side of the lake is somewhat less touched, the Peruvian side is definitely worth seeing.

The fact that such a vast lake exists up on the mountains at around 4,000 meters is already mesmerizing. We are heading to an island in the middle of Titicaca—surrounded by 6,000-meter peaks—which is, in a sense, a mountain summit left in the middle of water.

This route exists to experience Lake Titicaca, the atmosphere it creates, the views it offers, and the distinctly different culture found there. The Quechua culture we encounter around Cusco gradually gives way to Aymara culture as we approach Lake Titicaca. Average elevation rises from the 3,000s to the 4,000s, because we are now on the Altiplano, the world’s second-largest high plateau.

The Route

Summary

Sacred Valley-Puno Road
Lake Urcos [3,156m]
Click for drone footage of Urcos Lake
Click for a satellite image of Urcos Lake
La Raya Mountain Pass [4,350m]
Please click for the pass’s satellite image
Puno [4,000m] (1 Night)
Amantani or Tinqui Island (1 Night)
Return

Detailed Information

Sacred Valley – Puno Route:

I depart from Vamoss Experience (San Salvador). I meet you in Pisac (or at any point you prefer), we chew coca leaves, load your bags into our vehicle, and set off.

From the Sacred Valley—going in the opposite direction from Machu Picchu—we travel toward Lake Titicaca. We reach Urcos, have breakfast by Urcos Lake, and then begin the climb. A 400 km journey on paved roads brings us (excluding stops) in about 6.5 hours to Puno, the Peruvian city on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

The road generally runs at around 4,000 meters and offers wonderful mountain, lake, and human landscapes. At the midpoint of the drive, we pass through the La Raya Mountain pass [4,350m]. The summit of Chimboya Mountain [5,450m], right next to the pass, marks the boundary between the two high cities of Puno and Cusco.

Puno, Titicaca (1)

With a population of 130,000, Puno is a city with a special view thanks to its location on the shores of Lake Titicaca. We rest here and stay 1 night.

Isla Taquile or Amantani, Titicaca (1)

From Puno, we take a boat (we will decide in advance) to Taquile or Amantani Islands—two islands on Peru’s side of Lake Titicaca. First, we go to the home where we will stay. Both islands have preserved their culture and offer beautiful views. Depending on your preference, we visit one of them and spend one night in a local family’s home. We walk to the island’s sacred areas and draw nourishment from the power of Titicaca.

Puno-Sacred Valley

We return the same way. Our arrival back in the Sacred Valley will be late at night.

Sample Program

Our program is not fixed; it takes shape on the road. To help you understand the flow, here is a sample schedule:

Day 1

07:00: Depart from the Sacred Valley toward Lake Titicaca
08:30: Breakfast enjoyment at Urcos Lake
09:30: Begin the climb to La Raya Mountain Pass
11:00: Tea/Coffee/Cacao break
14:00: Lunch in Ayaviri
18:00: Puno (1 Night)

Day 2

07:00: Departure by boat on Titicaca
08:30: We are on the island
12:00: Lunch
13:30: Walk and exploration with beautiful views
18:00: Sunset; if possible, we light a fire

Day 3

07:00: Breakfast
12:00: Departure by boat
14:00: Lunch in Puno
23:00: Arrival in the Sacred Valley

What to Bring

Sunglasses (polarized if possible), sunscreen
3 layers of warm clothing, beanie, thick socks
Hiking shoes, windbreaker/rain jacket, thick pants, plastic poncho for heavy rain
Spare socks, underwear, pants, and any kind of second pair of shoes
Towel, swimsuit
Water bottle, snacks
Small gifts for children and people we may meet (coca leaves, pens, fruit, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, notebook, hair clips, toys, etc.)
Musical instrument (if you wish)

If you do not have some of the items above, let us know—we can lend them to you.

If we are more than 5 people, we place suitcases and backpacks on the roof of the car. In that case, please bring only essential items inside the vehicle.

Food

We would like to note that preparing for your dietary needs (if any) is a pleasure for us. Please inform us about this. Throughout the trip, we bring plenty of coca leaves, cacao nibs, maca, different teas, coffee, fruit, peanuts, and raisins for us to consume along the way.

Day 1

Breakfast by Urcos Lake [3,156m]:

Homemade granola (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free or sourdough bread, avocado, Peru’s surprisingly good green olives and very nice olive oil, farm eggs from the valley, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, various teas, coffee, hot chocolate.

Lunch:

In Ayaviri, we have the region’s Chairo soup—a hearty, nutrient-rich soup.

Day 2

Breakfast content:

We add items from our own stock to the breakfast provided by where we stay.

Lunch on Amantani or Taquile Island:

Lunch at local restaurants offering daily menus on the island (with a lake trout option).

Dinner:

Soup, polenta, egg, rice, salad.

Day 3

Breakfast on Titicaca:

Homemade granola (oats, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, chia seeds, walnuts), homemade yogurt or almond milk, fruit, gluten-free or sourdough bread, avocado, Peru’s green olives and very nice olive oil, farm eggs from the valley, goat cheese, butter, honey from a community we know, various teas, coffee, hot chocolate.

Lunch in Puno:

Lunch at Loving Hut Vegan Restaurant.

Participation Fee

Participation	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Fee ($)	950	700	640	580	540	480	450

Extras and Discounts

If you prefer to stay in a luxury hotel in Puno, GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca or Jose Antonio Puno are hotels that can meet your comfort needs. (The average price difference is about USD 15 per person.)

If you are looking for an authentic experience, Uros Samaraña Uta Lodge or Uros Titicaca Lodge are accommodation options we like: they are built on the traditional floating islands, meaning you can sleep on the lake, with wonderful lake views, lovely rooms, and service that is quite good. (The average price difference is about USD 50 per person.)

Accommodation

Puno is the largest city on the shores of Lake Titicaca and offers many accommodation options.

Our preference is Sol Plaza Hotel, located in the city center on Puno’s main square. For more luxurious or more authentic options, you can refer to the Participation Fee section.

On Amantani or Taquile, we stay in locals’ homes—in simple but sparkling clean rooms with fresh, clean sheets and clean bathrooms.